Changes to the way student-parking permits are administered by the Public Safety Department will streamline the process for students heading into the fall semester.

Only one permit will be required for the entire year- a change from the three separate permits previously needed. Permits obtained now will be valid until August 31, 2015.

“Feedback from student’s showed that that was what they wanted,” Sergeant Joseph Steffen, of the Public Safety Department said. “It makes it easier for enforcement and certainly easier for students.”

The Public Safety Department recommends that students wishing to acquire a parking permit for the fall semester do so before the start of classes to avoid delays and possible tickets.

“The first weeks will be hectic. There’s a lot of stuff going on. Either carpool or get here early,” Steffen advised.

Steffen said that tickets would be written for “blatant violations.”

“If you’re double parking or parking another vehicle in, not only will you be ticketed, you will be towed,” he warned.

Additionally, shuttle and bus services are available to and from the various Madison College campuses.

In an effort to simplify the overall parking situation, Madison College also reorganized the space available to students, the Group Health Cooperative

Clinic, and visitor parking over the summer.

In addition to the four main lots designated for student parking, one more lot will be available for the first two months of the fall and spring semesters to account for any potential overflow. The extra lot is owned by the National Guard and is located behind the Tennis Courts.

The new lot will add approximately 200 new spaces to the 2532 stalls currently available at Truax Campus, according to the Public Safety Department.

Students wishing to obtain a parking permit (part of the commuter fee included in tuition costs) may do so at the Public Safety Services Command Center, located at B1240 at the Truax Campus. The office is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.